Dwayne Johnson to bring story of folk hero John Henry to life

By World Entertainment News Network
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FILE - In this April 5, 2018 file photo, Dwayne Johnson attends the 2018 LA Family Housing Awards in West Hollywood, Calif. Johnson announced the birth of his third daughter Monday, April 23, on Instagram. He showed off a chest full of tattoos in a hospital snap with his latest addition, Tiana Gia Johnson. It’s his second daughter with partner Lauren Hashian. He also has a 16-year-old daughter with his former wife, Dany Garcia. He said Hashian labored like a “rock star.” (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File)

(WENN) - Dwayne Johnson has teased fans with a clip of his new movie, just hours after announcing details of the Netflix feature.

The busiest man in Hollywood has reteamed with his Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle director Jake Kasdan on adventure John Henry and The Statesmen, about African American folk hero John Henry. Henry is said to have worked as a “steel-driving man”- a man tasked with hammering a steel drill into rock to make holes for explosives to blast the rock in constructing a railroad tunnel.

According to legend, the steel-driver was pitted against steam-powered rock drilling machine in a race that he won, only to die in victory with hammer in hand as his heart gave out from stress.

Johnson shed some light on the film via his social media accounts, including the fact he’ll be producing it under his Seven Bucks Productions banner, the company he co-founded with ex-wife Dany Garcia.

"When the man comes around,” he began the post, alongside the 24-second clip, set to Johnny Cash’s The Man Comes Around. “Inspired to bring to life one of my childhood heroes, John Henry, in JOHN HENRY & THE STATESMEN.

In this movie, I’ll lead an ensemble of the most popular folklore figures and legends from different cultures around the world.

John Henry & The Statesmen marks the former wrestler’s first feature at Netflix who outbid several major competitors.

The Lego Ninjago Movie writer Tom Wheeler is in charge of the script, and he’ll executive produce alongside Dwayne’s former colleagues; Jumanji’s Melvin Mar and San Andreas, Rampage and Skyscraper producer Wendy Jacobson.

“The legend of JOHN HENRY’S strength, endurance, dignity and cultural pride was instilled in my DNA at a very young age. My dad would sing ‘Big John’ to me every time he would put me to bed. At bedtime most children get loving nursery rhyme songs – I got this,” Dwayne continued.

“Gonna be a lot of fun bringing these legends to life. My childhood hero.”